There were apologies from Stephen Mackenzie (SM), Irene MacLeod (IM),
Cllr Margaret Paterson (MP) PC James MacIver and David O’Connor (Owner of The
Bank Building)

2.

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The minutes of the meeting on Thursday
8th November 2018 were proposed as a true reflection by FM and
seconded by JD.

3.

Matters Arising from Minutes

Access to Old Railway Path (off Hawthorn Drive)

MA advised that the gate will be installed on Friday 21st
December.

MacDonald Bequest Update
Update on payment to carry out Tree Officers recommendations to be
carried to next meeting.

Village Defibrillators

MA and DC have not progressed the production of small cards to
promote the village defibrillators as yet.
This will hopefully be done for the next meeting.

Tree Issue at Railway Bridge
MA to update at next meeting.

Business Breakfast

FM/DC completed task of a thank you gift of a bottle of Glen Ord
whisky to Stewart Nicol, he expressed his delight at the gesture.

Filter Light on the Bridge

MA contacted lights but received no report he will chase for next
meeting.

Broken Smiley Face on Black Isle Road

DC reported this is now dead, not working at all, he did contact HC twice
about this, to no avail. GM to highlight this in Council.

Fairburn Fund Small Grants Money
FM to discuss the outcome of SM discussing this with SSE.
Speeding
Issues posted on FB page – a lot of interaction received on the
subject. MA to buy 20mph stickers and distribute to Great North Road
residents. Article to follow up in
Muir Matters. Betty Thom added that
the Distillery have spoken to the haulage companies that serve them, on
coming through the village and she has noticed the difference on Black Isle
Road.
Eggs/Stones Throwing Incidents
Community Police Officer has had reports of this recently. He has said to please keep reporting as if
they are local, they will certainly deal with the matter. This was posted on FB page although there
was plenty of interest not much interaction.
Jason Hasson reported he has the same problem in Culloden where he
polices, they spoke to the shop owners on this and they have stopped selling
the kids eggs, it might be worth approaching the shops. There was vandalism reported to the police
at the weekend, so the valued advice is keep reporting incidents.
Skate Park – Dog Poo Bin
MA spoke to HC on the Mill & Mix bin at the Skate Park as it is
overflowing with dog poo, they will not move this and to get it lifted by
another company the cost would be in excess of £200. Ally Reid suggested speaking to Ord
Industrial to see if they would do it with their toilet cleaning
machine. SM offered to shift on
machine to point of access for HC lorry.

4.

Police Report
MA read out the Police Report which detailed Police activities in the
area between 05/11/18 and 13/12/18.
During this time there were 52 logged calls received, breaking down
as:
3 – Theft (minor)
4 – Disorder (all
minor)4 – Vandalism2 – Fraud (counterfeit
money & internet purchase)4 – Domestic1 – Drugs (Youth)9 – Court Matters
(fines/warrants/bail)1 – Sexual Assault
(ongoing enquiry, although no perceived risk to the wider public)Several community
safety/road safety checks logged17 – Road Traffic
offencesSeveral
miscellaneous incidents/advice calls
The driver of the black Audi A3 using Ord Road has been spoken to
regarding the manner of his driving.
There have been a few patrols carried out in the Orchard, School and
Skate Park areas, in an attempt to deter youths/anti-social behaviour and
there appears to be a reduction in such calls this month.
Static road safety checks have been carried out highlighting the minor
road traffic offences.
Enquiries ongoing to the recent reports of vandalism
to fencing panels at the Bowling Club and Corrie Road.

Update – Community GroupsMOO Food
Rachel from Moo Food explained
for those who know nothing about the group that they are a social enterprise
run by volunteers. In April the
Scottish Government gave them money to develop 3 posts, all part time, of
which she is one. These employees have
been working with the volunteers to develop community engagement, successful
events include Family Open Day, Community BBQ & Picnic, Bug Hotel
building all at the Orchard. There has
been continued involvement with the school including the poly tunnels and
Grace’s garden and they are also interested in the building of a Bug Hotel. The teachers are keen to include this in
the curriculum for all classes.
The Community Fridge –
is volunteer run and checked daily. Most
of the businesses have also embraced this project with food donated from them
all. You will also find food harvested
from the Orchard and other items donated by Community members. This project is well used as all the food
from the fridge is used.
The Orchard also had a visit
from bee keepers. Also educating through
food, cooking with apples from the orchard.
Forest Food Fun has also been introduced to families at Clash Wood to
see if a Forest Classroom would be successful, this was well attended and all
present happy to pay for this service.
They are also working
with the Job Centre through Universal Credit scheme to boost esteem and
confidence, the same applies to the Mental Health group, they have had great
successes from this group.
Next Year their aim is
to have the same as last year but hoping to develop a youth group and
interact with uniformed groups.
Funding is being sought
to develop Community Dinners, along with the support of Artysans, they plan
to hold this in the hall for Guides/Mental Health Group/Sheltered Housing
residents.
Mulbuie & Marybank
schools have also asked for the help of Moo Food in developing the pupil’s
skills.
Although all involved are
very enthusiastic time is proving to be very challenging.
MA invited all present,
to ask Rachel any questions, there was much discussed including the use of
the community fridge and the variety of people using it and the guards round
trees in the orchard, looking messy, this will be addressed by the group.
MA thanked Rachel for
her time and expressed thanks to the group for their efforts so far.
BMX track
The BMX track started
on 28th November and should be completed by 19th
December. The plan may need tweaking
as the project progresses and is in budget at the moment and it is hoped that
there is a little left for landscaping.
This track is aimed for the use of all ages and it will be publicised
when the official opening will take place.
It is hoped to set a date sometime in April to make this a big event,
the progress of this will be reported at the next meeting.
Senior Citizens Xmas Party
FM thanked MC for her
efforts in organising the event, there was a lot of new faces and all were
happy with the evening yet again.

Halls & Facilities Company
(MHFC)

MA advised that a Co-ordinator is in place and the Hall renovations
are still on target to finish mid-December, with the facility reopening to
the public in January.

7.

Update – Planning Issues

Lochan Corr, 104 houses, planning application on Black Isle Road has re-applied
in principal to planning. CC to put a
letter to planning highlighting the same issues of objection as the last time
– no safe route to the village. The
issue of the widening of the pavement on Black Isle road from the school to the
Tarradale Hotel was highlighted, as on application the developers have stated
this will be done, but concerns raised by Ally Reid & DC is that if the
pavement is widened that the road width will decrease. The land is owned from
the park to the Tarradale by private owners, so this can only be achieved by reducing
the road width, this was stated to be 4.5m, 2 cars cannot pass in the road
and legal requirements states this must be 5.5m minimum, Ally Reid pointed
out that delivery vans are 2.4m width and even with new road restrictions the
road cannot be decreased in size to 4.5m.
DC also asked about the smiddy tree (tree at junction of Black Isle
Road onto Great North Road), the application has it taken away, but this is
not on land owned by the Developers. MA
stressed if anyone has any objections to please express their concerns to Planning.
Concerns were also raised by FM that this Development Company has not
completed a development in Muir of Ord before, this was confirmed by DC who
stated that this has cost the HC money as they supplemented the bond and that
surely this must come in to consideration in this planning conditions.
Discussion continued on the road traffic increasing on this road, but
it is thought the 7.5ton restriction should alleviate this. Increase in school role is going to put added
pressure on the already full school.
GM stated that there is money available through Scottish Futures
Trust in 2020/1, there are 11 school projects in Highlands listed for this, 1
of which is Tarradale Primary, decisions on this would need to be made very
soon.
As part of the new village discussion Big Picture 2, these
discussions need to include the requirement of a new school and options on
the various pieces of land in that area, Big Picture plans discussed briefly
but agreed to discuss further at the next meeting.
Jason Hasson stated he sits on Sustaining Education in the Highlands Board
and the figures going forward for budgets are very alarming, money is going
to be very tight. Tarradale Primary will
probably have another 2 or 3 portakabins in the next couple of years.
MA stated that the review and update of Inner Moray Firth Local
Development Plan for the next 5 years is starting soon. Community views will be sought beyond the
already allocated sites on the Black Isle Road and beyond the Cairns in the
existing plan. Community opinion will
be required on the future shape and content of the village. The FB page will be used along with other
channels to inform and encourage the Community for their input on these forthcoming
plans.
FB page to inform the Community on the planning request on Black Isle
Road, to include information/HC link on objecting if need be.

8.

Royal Bank Building – Muirbank
David O’Connor (building developer) was unable to attend the meeting
but DC reported that the building was to be used as a Tourism dwelling. The developer has had issues with broken
windows, both the old ones before removal and the new ones that have been
replaced, the Police have been informed and are aware of the issues. David is keen to get involved in the
Community and there will be cameras installed on the building in the near
future.

9.

Roads, Paths & Safety Issues

AR raised issue of trees covering street lights on Black Isle Road
and Balvaird Road GM to speak to Council Officer on the subject of cutting,
however MA asked if anyone would like to cut these to please do so.
DC said that the bark was across the footpath at the Railway foot
bridge – MA offered to go the next day and brush it up.

10.

Community Action

See Police Report 4.

11.

Post Office Issues
No further update but it is believed to be opening in February.

12.

Moo Food Update
See Community Groups 6.

13.

AOB
Community Council reviews – boundary change request from Beauly CC,
MA requested map to confirm their request. It was agreed to look at this to simplify things
and avoid complications.
DC requested opinion on a further Business Breakfast – the opinion
was it worked and good to work together with our neighbouring village on this.
JD asked if there were any issues on the boundaries, maybe it is the
time to look and raise these – MA advised against this as it is very heavy on
admin to do this. JD explained the
reason for her question was that a lot of CC’s are amalgamating but she fully
agreed with MA.
MC reported that the Dog Poo Bin at the distillery was on its side, the
one on the bridge is no longer there since the completed works on the bridge,
it was agreed there is a shortage of these bins within the village – MA informed
us HC no longer replace these bins, there are wheelie bins situated around
the village that take mixed waste.
Maybe a post on FB to feed this information to the residents and MA to
investigate stickers to make residents aware of this.

15.

Date of Next Meeting

Thursday 14th February
2018 @ 7.30 pm in the Hub, Muir of Ord.

The meeting finished at 9.40 pm

Actions:

Ref

Who

Action

When

1

MA

Gate installation
carried out.

ASAP

2

Cllr AM

To update if the
MacDonald Bequest will be used to pay for the Tree Officers recommendations for
the Urray Cemetery

ASAP

3

MA & DC

To draw up a
notice with the location of the MOO Defibrillators for distribution round the
village

ASAP

4

MA

MA to speak to
Network Rail about the tree blocking the light on the bridge & their
Corporate & Social Responsibility Police

ASAP

5

MA

To update on the lack
of the filter light on the new Bridge.

ASAP

6

GM

To update about
the broken Smiley Face on Black Isle Road

ASAP

7

SM

To liaise with SSE
about the Fairburn Fund Small Grants money

ASAP

8

MA

To update on the
Big Picture 2 event

ASAP

9

MA/JD

MA to distribute 20mph
stickers on Great North Road. To write an article on speeding for the next
Muir Matters

ASAP

10

MA

To speak to Ord
Industrial about emptying the poo bins at the Skate Park